Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale June 19th – 21st, 2014 at Russo and Steele’s 2nd Annual Newport Beach California Auction. Please contact us for more information.

Throughout its long history, Chevrolet produced a succession of popular models that continue to form the backbone of today’s classic-car culture. Of all, though, Chevy’s wildly successful and handsomely designed 1955-1957 “Shoebox” models continue to rank at the top of the list. While certain Chevrolet enthusiasts prefer the subtle 1955 Chevrolet and others favor the more flamboyantly finned and trimmed 1957 models, many appreciate the 1956 Chevy line as the perfect balance of the two extremes.

Deft stylistic tweaks for 1956 gave it a remarkably fresh and lighter appearance, while an ever-growing list of powertrain options and combinations added considerable substance to back up the sizzle. Thanks to Chevy’s lightweight, compact, and powerful small-block V-8 and a high power-to-weight ratio, the V-8 powered 1956 Chevrolet models were rightly advertised as the “Hot Ones.”

In addition to their increased performance and handling improvements, a series of new safety features included “crash proof” door locks, a padded dash and optional seatbelts were welcome improvements. In 1956, Chevrolet won the annual Pike’s Peak Hill Climb and famed garage and racing team owner “Smokey” Yunick used a 1956 Chevrolet to set a 24-hour average-speed record for American-built production cars at 101.58 mph, soundly beating Chrysler’s old record by nearly 12 miles per hour! With its fine styling, many amenities, strong competition record and legendary small-block V-8, the Chevrolet line was a huge success for 1956 in all of its many available models and body styles.

Drag racers and hot rodders have long gravitated to Chevy’s somewhat less flashy 150 and 210 “Post” models by virtue of their light weight, high strength, and low cost factor. In fact, one could easily formulate a convincing argument supporting them as the 1950s equivalent of Ford’s beloved “Deuce.” A mainstay of the hotly contested Junior Stock and “Gasser” classes of the 1950s through the 1970s and beyond, 1956 Chevys also continue to provide a perfect basis for a hot street machine.

Retaining original California license plates and very nicely blending its original styling cues with a cool street machine vibe and modern mechanical updates, this handsome 1956 Chevrolet 210 is powered by a 350 cubic inch Chevy V-8 engine with a Weiand blower adding a mild, low-stress 5-psi power boost. Equipped with a GM 200R4 four-speed automatic transmission providing a deep first gear for great launches and easy 2,000-rpm engine speeds while cruising on the freeway, the ’56 also features disc brakes, power steering, and a stereo.

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